For the first time, the USPS has given a discount to postage meter mail. The January 26, 2014 postal rates specified that domestic first-class letters with meter-applied postage would be only 48 cents, compared to the standard stamp price of 49 cents.

The metered-mail discount applies to first-class letters up to 3.5 ounces. (The USPS classifies envelopes over 3.5 ounces as Large Envelopes, which do not receive the one-cent discount.)

While this may not seem like much, it can add up to substantial cost savings over time. For example, a small business that mails 200 letters each week would save over $100 annually. Higher volume mailers can save thousands of dollars each year.

The new January 26th USPS retail first-class stamp price is $0.49; but when you use a postage meter, online/PC postage, or permit mail for domestic first-class letters, you’ll post only $0.48 with your smart one-cent discount. This is a great benefit for using a postage meter, and we automatically apply this new rate to all our machines.

Bear in mind that this discount applies only to mail that qualifies as a first-class letter. First-class flats and parcels do not qualify.

To be clear, here’s the definition of a first-class letter (from the USPS January 2014 Notice 123 document):